Court Conciliator

JOB


JOB SUMMARY
Performs professional work of considerable difficulty in providing mediation, family evaluations, on-call services, expedited differentiated case management conferences, child interviews, parent coordination, parent education, and guidance to self-represented clients for Conciliation Services at the direction of the Superior Court. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES Work in this classification requires an individual to be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary classification functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this classification may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in this classification description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this description.

TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Conducts court-ordered family evaluations; reviews and analyzes complex information which is highly sensitive; communicates with a variety of outside agencies including law enforcement and DCS; reaches logical and sound conclusions based on evaluation of facts and conflicting information and prepares lengthy reports and written recommendations to the court.
• Facilitates mediation in self or court-referred cases in Family Law, Juvenile Dependency, Guardianship, and Severance cases; prepares complex legal documents to address parenting plans, financial issues, and safety concerns.
• Performs court-ordered EDCM conferences and on-call services to provide immediate assistance to the Court by screening cases for appropriate services which require rapid assessment on issues of violence, mental instability, substance abuse, threats of abduction, homicide, or suicide and provision of written agreements, testimony, and/or recommendations to the court.
• Provides legal information and document review for self-represented litigants in the Decree Assistance Project and Family Law Facilitator program.
• Facilitates statutorily mandated parent education classes; provides in-depth and interactive instruction for the high conflict workshop.
• Interviews, assesses, and counsels minors contemplating marriage and provides the court with a written report and recommendations; counsels estranged couples regarding their marriage.
• Interviews children as referred by the court; submits audio recordings and written reports per policy; makes reports to DCS as necessary.
• Submits evaluative reports, mediated agreements, court documents, and internal assignments within established timelines.
• Manages risks, crises, and emergencies and utilizes reasonable procedures in cases involving clients who present with potential domestic violence, self-harm, suicide, abuse, or violent intent.
• Works and interacts collaboratively with other stakeholders, including judges, court staff, attorneys, family members, therapists, teachers, guidance counselors, physicians, probation officers, attorneys, and other individuals with information relevant to the best interests of the child.
• Attends meetings, conferences and workshops; participates in the accomplishment of organizational, departmental and workgroup goals and objectives.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records and restricted County information.
• Perform other related duties as required.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of State, Federal, and local laws and regulations that apply to family law, juvenile dependency, conflict resolution and mediation; legal terminology.
• Knowledge of professional ethics and standards of practice that apply to mediation, evaluation, counseling, parent coordination, and child interviews.
• Knowledge of principles of time and records management in accordance with clinical standards.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, consumer records, and restricted County information.
• Ability to maintain the integrity, professionalism, values and goals of the Conciliation Court by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed, and that accountability and public trust are preserved.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and professionally using excellent verbal and written skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with team members, outside agencies, the courts, and the public.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and interact professionally and effectively; work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to write legal documents and correspondence.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Independent body mobility to stand, walk, bend, and sit for prolonged periods of time and/or drive a vehicle. Manual dexterity to reach, and grasp; manual dexterity to hand write or use computer keyboard; vision sufficient to see and read; hear and speak to communicate with customers in person and over the phone; lifting, unloading, pushing and carrying small files/objects to and from various locations throughout the County.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Office setting. Will be required to work with clientele that may be resistant, antagonistic, and/or hostile. Will be required to drive throughout the County.